The Kurt Schwabe Institute (KSI) has released its Annual Report 2024, marking a year of both strategic continuity and transformation. In August, KSI entered a new leadership chapter with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rant succeeding Prof. Dr. Michael Mertig as Director.
Over the past 14 years, Prof. Mertig led KSI through a forward-looking realignment. Under his guidance, the institute sharpened its focus on high-performance miniaturized sensors for environmental and agricultural monitoring, while expanding activities into medical diagnostics. Digitalization, sustainability, and strong integration into Saxon and European scientific networks — including DRESDEN-concept — have become defining pillars of research at KSI.
Additionally, with strong support from the SMWK, new junior research groups and targeted development measures have ensured that KSI is now well positioned to train the next generation of scientists in sensor technology.
With the directorship now entrusted to Prof. Rant — a distinguished expert in nanotechnology and scientific instrumentation — the institute enters a new phase of growth. The Annual Report visually reflects this: the historic main building stands alongside the state-of-the-art research facility, symbolizing a scientific tradition that continues to evolve.
Looking ahead, KSI will intensify its focus on next-generation sensing approaches by advancing:
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nanoscale and biophysical sensor principles
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intelligent, interconnected system solutions
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materials-driven innovation with strong application ties
As Prof. Rant emphasizes, transformation is essential: scientific excellence emerges from the ability to reinvent ourselves. Supported by Saxony’s vibrant innovation landscape and the region’s strong industrial demand for novel sensing technologies, KSI is poised to both expand its scientific impact and strengthen technology transfer.
We invite you to explore the Annual Report 2024 and join us in shaping the future of applied sensor research at the Kurt Schwabe Institute.
DOWNLOAD ANNUAL REPORT 2024 (pdf, 5 MB)